THE centrepiece of one of the most exciting environmental attractions in Lancashire officially opened yesterday in a blaze of publicity.

The floating visitor village is set to become the iconic heart of Brockholes Nature Reserve near Samlesbury.

The £9.5million development covers more than 250 acres of land close to the River Ribble.

The visitor complex sits on pontoons in a former quarry and is designed to rise up to three metres as water levels change during the seasons.

It houses a restaurant, shop and various educational areas including a section dubbed Brockholes Airport which gives visitors an understanding of the wide variety of bird species who already call the area home.

Managed by the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, Brockholes is expected to attract over 250,000 visitors every year.

Already thousands have called in to get their first glimpse of the reserve which opened on Easter Sunday.

Yesterday, TV personality Simon King, the Wildlife Trust president, officially opened the visitor village, marking the end of 10 years’ work transforming the former quarry site.

Family-friendly and specialist hides offer places to watch the wide variety of wildlife which ranges from lapwings and redshanks to native roe deer.

Ted Jackson, chairman of Lancashire Wildlife Trust, said: “We have achieved our wildest dreams by creating this spectacular complex that blends in with the nature surrounding it and creating habitats that will attract an array of wildlife.”

“We are delighted that Brockholes is now open. It is a very exciting place where both people and wildlife can take a break from their long journeys.”

Anne Selby, chief executive of Lancashire Wildlife Trusts said: “We are calling Brockholes the ‘unreserved reserve’ because we want to bring nature to the forefront of people’s minds in a way that they can both enjoy and feel free to explore.

"We hope this iconic reserve will help emphasise the importance of our natural resources.”

The new visitor centre sits on a concrete raft, made buoyant by hollow chambers, and is held by four steel posts to stop it from drifting across the lake.

A series of conference rooms can be rented out to generate income with ‘quiet’ weddings and parties on the cards, so as not to disturb the wildlife.

Brockholes has already created several dozen new jobs.

Brockholes forms a key part of the Ribble Coast and Wetlands Regional Park which stretches from the River Ribble to the Fylde Coast.

So much to see

  • Food festivals, bushcraft activities and willow weaving are just some of the events coming to the impressive new £9.5million tourist attraction in Samlesbury.
  • The spectacular nature reserve, designed to look like a southern Iraqi marshland village, opened to the public on Easter Sunday and has already attracted thousands of visitors.
  • Events are planned all year round, including a May Madness event on May Bank Holiday weekend, with guided walks and children's wildlife activities, including pond dipping and mini beast hunts.
  • From May 31 to June 2, during school half-term, children will be entertained at the Wild Side adventure club, with environmental art, willow weaving and bushcraft activities.
  • The reserve also caters for adults with a food festival in June showcasing produce from local businesses and chefs and a number of guided walks to spot the array of wildlife.
  • Bosses behind the scheme hope it will attract nature lovers, passing tourists, school children and also business guests.
  • The 106-hectare site is home to birds including lapwings, sand martins and kingfishers, as well as more vulnerable species such as whimbrels and skylarks. Specialist hides are dotted around the site.
  • The nature reserve contains one of the largest trips of ancient woodland in the UK.
  • Entry to the reserve is free but there is a car parking charge with all profits helping meet running costs.
  • The striking design of the visitors’ centre was created by architect Adam Khan.